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THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY of an American Peacemaker Follow Brian’s journey…from high school jock…to Viet Nam commander…to peace activist…seeking right livelihood…and now…cycling to your town with his new book ! A book talk with S. Brian Willson DATE: TIME: PLACE: BLOOD ON THE TRACKS is available for purchase from your favorite bookseller or from PM Press: www.pmpress.org (ISBN 978-1-60486-421-2)• For more information: bloodonthetracks.info • Find the book on Facebook! SUMMER 2011 BOOK TOUR

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Page 1: THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY of an American Peacemakerbloodonthetracks.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BW_flyer.pdf · Cycling Adventure Demonstrating Human-Powered Transportation As

THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY of an American Peacemaker

Follow Brian’s journey…from high school jock…to Viet Nam commander…to peace activist…seeking right livelihood…and now…cycling to your town with his new book !

A book talk with S. Brian Willson

DATE:TIME:PLACE:

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS is available for purchase from your favorite bookseller or from PM Press: www.pmpress.org (ISBN 978-1-60486-421-2)• For more information: bloodonthetracks.info • Find the book on Facebook!

SUMMER 2011 BOOK TOUR

Page 2: THE UNIMAGINABLE JOURNEY of an American Peacemakerbloodonthetracks.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BW_flyer.pdf · Cycling Adventure Demonstrating Human-Powered Transportation As

Cycling Adventure Demonstrating Human-Powered Transportation As Practice: Every Rotation of a Bicycle Wheel Is A Revolution • June–July 2011IN 2006, ON MY THREE-WHEELED HANDCYCLE, I cycled with about a dozen others from Eugene, Oregon to Seattle, Washington to attend an annual Veterans For Peace (VFP) convention (see photo at right). I wanted to demonstrate a model of transportation that didn’t require burning fossil fuels for this gathering of vets who essentially were protesting U.S. wars that are about preserving control of oil reserves in the Middle East. This year’s VFP convention is scheduled to be held August 3-7 at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.

My political memoir, Blood On The Tracks: The Life and Times of S. Brian Willson, is due to be released in mid-June (PM Press). This memoir chronicles my long journey from a conservative country boy to graduate student of criminal justice and law, to disgruntled commander in Viet Nam, to becoming a double below-the-knee amputee after being intentionally run over by an accelerating U.S. government munitions train bound for Central America (with weapons destined to murder peasants seeking justice). Subsequent experiences provoked further expansion of my consciousness. It is my humble intent with this book to open dialogues with others so that I may not only share my insights, but learn from their experiences, as well.

Once again I plan to handcycle to the VFP convention to demonstrate that all our lifestyle choices, including the way we move our bodies, even “seniors” and those with disabilities such as myself, are directly connected to and in effect “drive” our national imperial policies. Designed to underline many of the points I make in my memoir, this trip will be the launch of my book tour, with many stops at bookstores and community groups along the way.

My cycling adventure will be divided into two northwest segments stretching from Washington State to the San Francisco Bay Area. On the first leg starting late June, I will cycle from Portland, Oregon to the Bay Area. Enroute, I plan to celebrate my 70th birthday on July 4 in Arcata, California. After engagements in the Bay Area, I hope to transport myself and my handcycle via Amtrak back to Portland. After a short rest in late July, I will ride the Amtrak Cascades train to the Seattle area, and from there begin cycling south with the tail wind, with the goal of arriving in Portland in time for the start of the VFP convention in early August.

One experienced cyclist, Joel Finkelstein, will accompany me for the entire adventure. Other cyclists are invited to join us in solidarity rides when we pass through their local areas/regions. I expect to average about 35-40 miles a day on my arm-powered handcycle. Our precise cycling routes I trust will be aided by the advice of other experienced cyclists. My outreach coordinator is Nicole Bowmer. Please contact her at [email protected] regarding bookstore readings, talks with community groups, and leads associated with lodging and meals.

Every rotation of my handcycle wheel carries me six feet. During my 2006 ride I covered about 950 miles – over 800,000 rotations of my 20-inch wheel, one revolution at a time. This is the message I would like to convey – that each choice we make every day affects everything and everyone around us, and thus every choice that we make with a consciousness of sustainability and living more lightly on the earth, of obstructing the continued damage caused by industrial civilization, is in itself a revolution.

S. Brian Willson, May 2011 [Web essays: brianwillson.com]Book Tour Outreach Coordinator: Nicole Bowmer: [email protected]

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